Chapter 137: New Plan
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“I’m afraid it’s a little difficult.” Zhou Juan’s father expressed his concern in response to the request from the Jiang family.
“We only hope for you to guide us to the county town. Nothing more,” Jiang Chuan clarified.
The Jiang family had just arrived at Zhou Juan’s home. Upon their warm welcome, Jiang Chuan shared his idea, which, to his surprise, seemed to place Zhou Juan’s father in a difficult position.
Jiang Xia and Zhou Lan were nervous about this situation. Whether they could make it to the county town or not was crucial to their future happiness.
Especially when they saw the concerned look on Zhou Juan’s father’s face, Jiang Xia and Zhou Lan even thought about possible alternatives.
Jiang Chuan, with his inherent business instinct, quickly understood Zhou Juan’s father’s concern.
“We’ve never left our village, and we know nothing about the situation in the city. It feels like there’s no future for us here in the village. As the head of the family, I cannot stand by and watch my family starve,” Jiang Chuan said. His eyes were filled with sorrow, which touched Zhou Juan’s father.
There’s a saying that parents’ hearts are always with their children. If it weren’t for his own children, Zhou Juan’s father would have never found the courage to leave the impoverished mountain village and work hard to provide the life they have now.
“You know, I’m just a small worker in the sugar factory, with no real power…”
“It’s a misunderstanding. We only want you to guide us to the county town,” Jiang Chuan promptly caught on and clarified once Zhou Juan’s father spoke.
Jiang Chuan immediately understood what Zhou Juan’s father said and explained again.
Relieved by these words, Zhou Juan’s father let out a sigh. However, upon seeing the patchwork clothes of the Jiang family and their lack of luggage, he asked with some worry, “So, what are your plans once you reach the county town?”
This was a good question.
Jiang Xia had already discussed this with Jiang Chuan during their journey.
In this era, having a factory job was like having a ‘secure job,’ but getting one was exceedingly difficult. Even if Zhou Juan’s father had the means to help, why would he?
Therefore, this was Jiang Chuan and Jiang Xia’s new plan.
They would go to the county town and sell wild vegetables.
Jiang Xia was confident that the vegetables grown with the help of the interspace water would definitely attract buyers.
Jiang Chuan revealed a simple and honest smile that belonged only to rural people. He said to Zhou Juan’s father, “We don’t have much to offer, just the wild vegetables we sold you before. We’re hoping to find a market for them in the city.”
Remembering the taste of those wild vegetables, Zhou Juan’s father couldn’t help but smack his lips in appreciation.
Despite being ordinary wild vegetables, those from Jiang Chuan’s family were particularly fresh. Even when prepared with minimal seasoning, or simply boiled with rice to make vegetable porridge, they were so good he could eat two large bowls.
He first praised her without hesitation, then said, “These vegetables taste good indeed, but private selling is prohibited and is against the law. I’m afraid…”
Jiang Chuan understood; Zhou Juan’s father feared that they would get in trouble and drag him into it. But this was understandable.
Not only does a worker earn a decent salary, but their social status is also high in today’s society. Who would be willing to lose such a good job for a little extra money?
“You don’t need to worry about that. Once we get to the county town, we can act as strangers. I’m just someone who happens to be going to town at the same time as you.”
With Jiang Chuan having spoken so straightforwardly, Zhou Juan’s father couldn’t well refuse him.
Seeing as they were already at his doorstep, and remembering their past relationship, Zhou Juan’s father made a room available for the Jiang family to rest and recover. They would all go to town together the next day.
In the evening, Zhou Juan’s father lit a kerosene lamp for the guests who came from afar.
TThough Zhou Juan’s family was better off than Jiang Chuan’s, they were far from rich. The room they offered to the Jiang family wasn’t big, but it was decent enough. The family decided to make a large common bed.
As night fell and the family lay on the freshly made bed, Jiang Xia and Jiang Gu lay between Jiang Chuan and Zhou Lan.
Jiang Gu, staring at the sturdy roof overhead, whispered to her sister, “Sister, when can we live in a house like this?”
The flickering kerosene lamp cast dancing shadows on the wall. Jiang Gu’s words tugged at the hearts of the entire family..
